Jol accepts Riether punishment

07 Nov 2013 17:16:58

Fulham manager Martin Jol insisted the club have "moved on" after Sascha Riether was banned for three matches for stamping on Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj towards the end of Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Craven Cottage.

Fulham initially asked the Football Association for clarification on its retrospective action rule after Riether was charged with violent conduct.

But Jol has now accepted his right-back's punishment, which will start with him missing Saturday's key game against Barclays Premier League game against Liverpool.

Jol said: "If he did do it deliberately it is fair enough to get three games. The referee didn't see it. I didn't see it, but they decided to give him that punishment and people around me said it was probably something deliberate.

"He said it was not deliberate but he apologised to the club, to the fans and to us. It is not what you need, but we move on."

Jol revealed he will be speaking to Riether again about the incident and added: "They are all responsible for their own actions. Sascha Riether is responsible and we are responsible. You don't want that sort of thing.

"He has been punished for it and I don't think he will do it again in the future.

"If he tells me he didn't do it deliberately and other people say he did there is always a grey area with that. But I think you should try not to stamp on someone's feet, probably fall over and do something."

Jol, who revealed striker Hugo Rodallega will be out for six weeks with a leg muscle problem, goes into the Liverpool match under pressure and with Saturday's Craven Cottage boos still ringing in his ears.

Fulham lie 16th in the Premier League, two points above the relegation zone, and against Liverpool Jol comes up against his former captain at Ajax, Luis Suarez.

Jol said: "Suarez is one of the best in the world and he will prove that. He will score a lot of goals. He would have been top scorer last year if he had not been suspended (for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic).

"(Daniel) Sturridge has also had a big impact since he went to Liverpool. They are very good going forward with these top players up front.

"Maybe you could stretch your imagination a bit and say they could be title contenders. They are strong and they will be going for a top four spot this year."

Jol, however, insists he feels no pressure, despite the disenchantment among the home fans which saw Fulham striker Bryan Ruiz booed off the pitch when he was substituted on Saturday.

Jol, who refused to comment on the club being linked with a move for PSV Eindhoven's Swedish striker Ola Toivonen, said: "I don't think you are under pressure against Liverpool or Manchester United. You are under pressure in your home games against teams who should lose points against us, for example Crystal Palace.

"We really felt some pressure (against them), not because of me but because of the result. We needed points and we managed to win that game. We played well.

"If they (the fans) are disappointed I can understand that. The only disappointing thing was with Ruiz. As long as we don't have the results they can (boo) me, but hopefully they will support the team. We are not in the best of situations, but we are not in the worst.

"We had a very difficult schedule. We have played most of the top teams in difficult away games. The only really inconsistent game was 1-1 against West Brom. We need a few surprise results and maybe we can start against Liverpool."